Swivel connection between windshield wiper blade unit and arm



June 9, 1953 F. A. KROHM SWIVEL CONNECTION BETWEEN WINDSHIELD WIPERBLADE UNIT AND ARM I Filed April 5, 1946 INVENTOR. f/EED A.. KROHMATTORNEY Patented June 9, 1953 SWIVEL CONNECTION WIN-D? SIIIEIZD WIPERiBLADE UNIT ANDI ARMF ErodA Krohm, Gary, lndglassignor. to;'Bi'.odi1o=-tive Inventions, 'Inc;, a corporation of Indiana.

Applicatidnfipril'S, 1946, Serial No. 6595728 8 Claims. L-

Tfiis-inventionr relates to:-windshield:i cleaning apliaratus andi moreparticularly is directed i to means for -connectingrltliefwiperrbladeunitxtcrthe operating sor' driving arxm mane majority -ofi"'autemotivevehicles now be ing" manufactured; the: point: of! connection? bee tweentl'ie drive "shait andithe inner: extremityvof the" operating arm:supporting the: wiper? bladeunit is generally disposed attsomedesirable"distance in advance of the surfaceztoabeicleaned, andtliefconn'ectiorr means betweenatheiouterxextremof'tlie amt? andf' the:-unit= is preferably such thati thewip'er may b'e-i pivoted or-sw-ungout of alignment withirespect tblth'e armaso that the wiper will? cleantiie largestiarea". possible and returnl toi rest in a position"substantiallyparallel to" a?- sid ofth'e windshield' frame; for.example; tlfe lewer side -when the shaft p'ro'j ects fiforwardlythrough-the cowl of-"tlie vehicle'a body:

It is -a= knownf aot' that when the wiper blade unit: is' inalignmentwith the Wiper arm: that the" unit williwipe'en'd' cleanthe-surfaoef-to: be clarned as intended because the plane formedby?"tiie wipen'unitris positioned substantially at right angles: tothewindshield; thereby: permitting-f tlie unit to properlv tilt-or: pivotthe same extent or amounflineach direction as the-r unit is. osc111'atedorr-moved b'acl an'd' forth acrossfltlie windshieldl Iii-*has beendiscovered; however; that when the" biadmnitis- =swung 'out of? alignmentor tor-a position transverse with respect to the longitudinal axisof the wiper in the mannerreferred to above; the plane of the' unit,inciudin'g the means forestablishing the" connec tionib etween" the armand unit; will be caused to a'ssumew positiomothen than aright' angle;and as er corisequencetlieunit wilY-not properly: clean the" windshieldBecause the" unitwill tilt to a greaterl extent one direction th'an in'another when; thesame is moved' ba'cl and forthacross the windshield!Accordingly; thepriinary ob'j ect of the present invention is tdprovidniea-ns for establishing an iimoroved pivotal or swivel connectionbetween the armend tlie wiper unit -whereby the -correct pine o-r'position oftlie unit with-respect to the plane-orsurface to be-nleanedm'av be predetev mined'to obtain the wiping actiondesiredi The improvedmeans, in effect? is constructed and ar rangedto' compensate for trievarious angular positions of 'the -partsabove referred toi Tlie=invention: is partioularly 'well f adapted for use irrcleanifiginotbnI-fir substantially planar Lear facesbut windshields ha ving curvedonundulated surfaeeawh'ere thez angles above referredito' 'may be; quitecritical.

connection means rof': such a? character that the wiper unit may beautomatically'held'to anyfiposi tion to which itmay bezadjustedl Anadditional ObjBCt'aOf theainventionzisitotprne vi'de': an;arrangementtin whioh'iinos addition'altor separate-parts are required toobtain performance ofithe invention;

A furtherobject of thelinventioniis to provide connection meanswhichmaytbeeasil-y memenly, assembled: on; a: production basi-sxandiwheni-asisembled, is v well stabilized torwithst'andi oonsidere ableshock and vibration;

Other obj ectsand advantages?ofitlieiinvention will be: apparent after.-consideringgtliee damnation hereinafter set forth in' conjunctioni: withthe drawing, annexed hereto:

In ltherdrawing; I

Figures. 1! and. 2t illustrate-side: andslfront views of a windshieldwiper arm and; associated mar unit mounted with" respeot to awindshieidii for indicating the purposeaofutheinvention;

Figure tii' is .a-viewshowinggtlresresult onreffets of; the connection;established; between are arm and Wiper unitprion tor-theapplicationmfithe invention;

Figure *4 .sis: a: view similar :to. Figure-13 depictingtherapplication'ranm advantages oiith'e invention;

Figure 5a is :aztop r'view partially imseotion'sill usitrating a=wiperarm-,includin'g a'i shroudiassooi a te'di' therewith Figure; 6 isl an;enlarged longitudinal: section taken through Figure 5illustratingidetailsoi the assembly;

Figure- 7 is: avplan .view -similarstoe Figure *5atheshroud-beingi-removedz Figurevswis asideview of the a'ssemblvidepiotedin Figure a '7;

figure 9 is arsid e:viewasimilantoiFigureilshow ingi'onei'ofrthe'partssmoved tmadiffierentanositiom Figure: 10 .is ansendrviewofibneofthenbnnebt ingpartssecured to; the operating-arm;

Figures 1.1, lz'and 13 areseetionalwiews'ztaken substantially. on lines;H-H l 2-l 2 -and-T1l 3943 of Figurefl; respectively;illustratingthei-relaiion of certain parts at'ldifferent pointstor: locations and VFigure 1401s: an explodedlview. otthei end i exe tremity, oftheuwiperarm; and certainotHer parts associated: therewith.

In order to obtainia better 'understandingjiand the underlying reason orpurpose off'the" invert tion,, reference] will first be made to Figures1 through 3 l of the" drawing; wherein n'umerai I represents'a'wipenarm, member 'or lfarsupported on a shaft 2fondriving;a'bladeunitficarrifib? the arm back and forth across thesurface of an inclined pane 4 forming a 'part of the windshield, In theinstallation illustrated the shaft projects outwardly through the cowlof the vehicle adjacent the lower inner corner of the pane 4, and thepoint of connection between the arm and shaft is located some distancein advance of the windshield, thereby causing the arm to assume quite anangle with respect to the plane of the windshield. In suchinstallations, as stated in th forepart of this specification, provisionis made whereby the blade unit may be pivoted or swung out of alignmentwith the arm as shown by the full lines in Figure 2 so that the unitwill wipe or clean the largest area of the glass possible and return torest in a position substantially parallel to the lower side of thewindshield frame as indicated by the dotted lines. Heretofore, suchinstallations have not proven altogether too satisfactory for the reasonthat the wiper blade unit and means for connecting the same to the armare forced to assume an an gular position with respect to the plane ofthe windshield as depicted in Figure 3, and as a con sequence the wiperunit will not vacillate or tilt the same extent during its travel ineach direction, thereby preventing the wiping edges of the wipingelement to properly contact and clean the glass. In fact, theinclination in certain installations may be so pronounced that the Wiperunit is prevented from tilting either to one or the other side of themid-point of its intended and normal arc of movement. This isparticularly true when the wiper unit is swung to a considerable angleout of alignment with the arm. The

present invention has been developed to offset the disadvantageouscondition referred to so that the wiper unit will function or operate asillustrated in Figure 4.

Various means may be employed to practice the invention but thepreferred mode is to provide the outer extremity of the wiper arm with achannel member 5 which constitutes a part of connection means forattaching the wiper unit to the arm, and to provide a channel and armwith co operating means whereby the channel may be tilted with respectto the arm when it is rotated about the pivot rivet 6 securing thechannel to the arm, thereby to compensate for any irregu- I larity asevidenced in Figure 3, resulting from disalignment of the wiper unitwith respect to the arm as described.

The cooperating means of the wiper arm com prises a portion 1 adjacentits outer extremity generally arcuate or curved in cross section to forma dished seat 8 and a pair of correspondingly spaced abutments 9 and I0,the latter preferably being disposed adjacent the longitudinal marginaledges of the wiper arm. The arm may be constructed as desired but ispreferably made from a substantially flat strip of flexible materialgenerally rectangular in cross section to obtain stability. The arm isprovided with a hole II.

The cooperating means on the channel member 5 includes a cam portion I2generally arcuate or curved in cross section provided adjacent the outerextremity of the base portion I3 of the channel and a pair of spacedapart bosses, abut' ments or projections I4 and I5 adjacent the innerextremity of the base portion. The base portion I3 of the channelintermediate the cam portion I2 and the bosses I4 and I5 is preferablymade substantially flat or lanar in character as indicated at I6, andthe portion I2 which substantially corresponds to the curvatu Of theportion 7 of the arm and the bosses are preferably raised or extend adesirable distance above the plane of the planar portion II; to providea clearance space between the latter portion and the overlying portionof the arm. The inner extremity of the base portion I3 is preferablyprovided with a rearwardly extending integral finger IT. The material ofth base between the bosses is preferably formed to provide a concave orin dented seat I8. The base portion is provided with a hole I9corresponding to the hole II in the arm and the pivot rivet 6 extendsthrough the holes and secures the chamiel member to the arm by upsettingthe inner end of the rivet clearly illustrated. The connection betweenthe channel member and the arm is preferably such that the parts areheld together in a manner whereby the channel member and associatedwiper unit may be manually pivoted or rotated with respect to the arm tothe position desired and be automatically held in such position. Theclearance-space between the channel and the arm contributes to anarrangement whereby the material adjacent the hole I I in the arm may bdrawn toward the underlying portion of the channel member to place thematerial under stress or tension by .upsetting the rivet to the extentdesired. This arrangement provides a simple, yet efficient and durableconnection.

In view of the foregoing description, it should be manifest that whenthe channel member 5 and associated wiper unit 3 are in generalalignment with the arm that the cam portion I2 of the channel willregister with the seat 8-of the arm, and that the bosses I4 and I5 willengage the under surface of the arm at either side of its longitudinalaxis to provide a well-balanced assembly suitable for installation whereit is not essential that the wiper unit be positioned at an angle withreference to such axis. 1

In those installations which require that the wiper unit be angled asexemplified in Figure 2 of the drawing, the transition may be effectedby merely pivoting or turning the channel and associated wiper unit tothe desired position in which position it will automatically beretained. When the channel member 5 and associated wiper unit are in theact of being turned to the position illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 12through 14, the cam portion I2 of the channel will ride out of the seat8 on the wiper arm until a surface adjacent the crest of the cam engagesthe abutment 9 and that portion of the arm adjacent its longitudinalmarginal edge formerly engaged by the boss I4 will ride into the concaveseat I8 between the bosses I4 and I5, and as a result of the tension orstress and other contributing factors, the channel member will be tiltedwith respect to the arm to assume the desired operative positionsubstantially at right angles to the surface to be cleaned asexemplified in Figure 4 of the drawing so that the wiping element 20forming a part of the wiper unit may vacillate or pivot the same extentin each direction as the wiper unit is directed across the windshield.Such tilting serves to compensate for the irregularities alluded toabove and exemplified in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The channel member 5 and associated wiper unit may be swung to any oneof a plurality of angular positions desired within a predetermined rangeor are of movement. In other words, the channel and wiper unit may bemoved to the position indicated in Figures '7 and 8 to compe'n sate forthe angular position exemplified in Figure 2, when the apparatus isapplied to one pane of the windshield) and" to. the position illustratedin Figures. and 9 to compensate for the angular displacement when;corresponding" ap paratus is applied to the other pane ofthc'windshield.

Attention. is directed to thefact'that'the com pensatingmeans', whichcomprises the cooperating means provided" on the wiper arm and thechannel member, is so constructed andarranjged that the" tilting of-Fthe channel member respect to the arm is acomplished gradually. Morespecifically; the compensating: means been scientifically developed and"engineered so that the channel and associated wiper unit will tilt to aminimum extent when the wiper on" is moved slightly out of alignmentwith the wiper arm to, compensate" forsuch' disalignment; which ofcourse takes into consideration the" distance the point of connectionbetween the innere2:- tremity of the wiper arm and the drive shaft islocated in advance of the windshield as described above. Obviously, whenthe wiper unit is moved further out of alignment with the wiper arm, thecompensating means will act or function to tilt the channel member andwiper unit a greater extent to compensate for such increased angle ofdisalignment.

Any suitable means for the purpose may be provided for controlling orpredetermining the range of movement of the channel member withinpracticable limits. In the present embodiment of the invention, therange is defined by a pair of stops 2i, one or the other of which may beengaged by the finger I! on the channel. The

stops 2| are preferably provided on ornamental shroud or housing 22which be secured to the arm by a pair of locking portions 23 which areinturned to engage the under surface of the arm. The outer wall it ofthe shroud may engage the pivot rivet 6 and the inner eartremity of theshroud may be angled as at 25 to engage a shoulder or abutment 26 on thewhereby to assist in holding the shroud against movement in an axialdirection.

Any means may be employed for connecting the wiper unit to the arm. Asherein illustrated the connection means employed includes, among otherthings, the channel 5, a clip 2i, and a mounting 28, the latter of whichserves to mount the clip for pivotal movement with respect to the holderor backing 29 of the wiper unit. The side walls iii of the channelmember 5 are preferab ly bridged by a cross pin 3! which cooperates withsuitable latch or holding mechanism on the clip when the latter isreceived between the walls til of the channel.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of myinvention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodimentsshown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A windshield wiper arm provided with a substantially planar portion,means for supporting a wiper blade unit permanently mounted on said armfor pivotal movement, said supporting means being provided with asubstantially planar portion underlying said first-mentioned planarportion and also provided with a concave portion, the arrangement beingsuch that when the supporting means is pivoted so that its planarportion is not coextensive with the planar portion on the arm, an edgeof the latter planar portion will rest in the concave portion to causethe supporting means to assume a tilted position with respect to thearm.

2". A windshield: wiper arm; sa-idarm being provideo with asubstantially planar portion, an" elongated memberior' supporting awiper blade unit, said' member having a; base wall portiondisposeol'subst'antiallyparallel to saidplanar'portion, rivet" meansextending through said portions permanently and pivotally connecting thememberto the arm, anda' pair of spaeed'raised' abutment means providedon said base wall portion and a pair" ofsp'aced abutment. means providedon said substantially planar portion, the arrangement being'such thatWhen'th'e elongated member is align'ed'withlthe planar portion" of thearm the pair of'abutni'ent means on the base'wall oi? the memberwill'engage the'p'air of abutment's on said planar portion to maintainthe saidiportions in parallellrelationand when the member is pivoted" topredetermined extent" only one" of the abut'mentnieans on'th'e basewall'portiori' of the member will engage only one of the abutment meanson the planar portion of the arm and thereby place said portions out ofparallel relationship.

3. A member for supporting a windshield wiper unit to an operating armprovided with a pair of abutments, said member being pivotally connectedto the arm and provided with a plurality of portions, one of saidplurality of portions being cngageable with said abutments, otherportions being adapted to engage the arm at points remote from saidabutments when said member is in a position substantially in alignmentwith said arm, and said member, when pivoted out of alignment withrespect to said arm, being adapted to assume a tilted position in whichone of said abutments will engage said one portion of said member andone of said other portions of said member will engage said arm.

4. A windshield wiper arm, abutment means provided adjacent the outerextremity of the arm, a member pivotally mounted adjacent said outerextremity for supporting a wiper blade unit, and a pair of projectionsand a cam provided on said member engaging said arm in one position,said abutment means, said projections, and said cam being constructedand arranged whereby when the member is moved to another position sothat the abutment means on the arm engages one of said projections andis out of contact with the other projection said member will be tiltedwith respect to said arm.

5. A windshield wiper arm provided with a substantially planar portion,means pivotally mounted on said arm for supporting a wiper blade unit,said supporting means having a wall engaging said planar portion, saidwall being provided with an indented portion, the arrangement being suchthat when the supporting means is pivoted so that its wall is notcoextensive with the planar portion on the arm, an edge of the planarportion will rest in the indented portion to cause the supporting meansto assume a tilted position with respect to the arm.

6. A member for supporting a windshield wiper blade unit to an operatingarm provided with a dished seat, said member being pivotally connectedto the arm and provided. with a cam engaging the seat and a pair ofbosses spaced from the cam engaging the arm when said member is in aposition substantially in alignment with said arm, and said member, whenpivoted out of alignment with respect to said arm, being adapted toassume a tilted position in which only a portion of the cam engages saidseat and only one of said bosses will engage said arm.

7. A windshield wiper arm having a portion of predetermined Width, afitting pivotally connected to said arm portion for supporting a wiperblade, and said fitting having a pair of abutments, the arrangementbeing such that when the fitting is located in one position bothabutments will engage the arm portion and when manually located inanother position only one of the abutments will engage the arm portionto cause the fitting to tilt with respect to the arm and remain in thatcondition.

8. A windshield wiper arm provided with a substantially planar portion,means pivotally mounted on said arm for supporting a wiper blade unit,said supporting means having a wall engaging said planar portion, saidwall being provided with an indented portion, the arrangement being suchthat when the supporting means is pivoted so that its wall is notcoextensive with the planar portion on the arm, an edge of the planarportion will rest in the indented portion to cause the supporting meansto assume a tilted position with respect to the arm, a shroud carried bythe arm overlying its planar portion, a projection provided on thesupporting means, and means provided on the shroud forming stops for theprojection whereby to limit the range of pivotal movement of thesupporting means.

FRED A. KROHM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,389,129 Dell Aug. 30, 1921 1,695,326 Folberth Dec. 18, 19282,264,167 Paulus Nov. 25, 1941 2,286,004 OShei June 9, 1942

